UK’s top insurance fraud hotspots revealed as fleets warned over rising scam claims

Fleet operators are being urged to raise driver awareness around insurance fraud after new analysis identified the UK areas most affected by so-called “crash for cash” scams.

The Insurance Fraud Bureau says fraudulent motor insurance claims rose 12% last year, costing the economy more than £1 billion.

For fleets, the issue goes beyond insurance premiums alone. Fraud-related collisions can create vehicle downtime, driver disruption, excess payments and lengthy claims disputes, particularly for vans and high-mileage company vehicles operating in urban areas.

Common scams include deliberate harsh braking, roundabout lane traps and fraudsters waving drivers out of junctions before intentionally causing collisions.

The IFB’s top 10 England hotspots were:

  • RM9 – Barking & Dagenham
  • B10 – Birmingham
  • EC1 – Central London
  • B24 – Birmingham
  • BD7 – Bradford
  • B8 – Birmingham
  • BD8 – Bradford
  • BD9 – Bradford
  • BD3 – Bradford
  • B18 – Birmingham

The data was compiled from analysis of 3.3 million insurance claims.

Drivers are being advised to fit dashcams, maintain safe stopping distances and photograph all vehicles and documentation after any incident.

The growing sophistication of insurance fraud also highlights the wider value of telematics and in-cab camera systems, which many fleets now use to help defend disputed claims and reduce insurance costs.

Access the full list from the Insurance Fraud Bureau here.

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